High-resolution spatial and genomic characterization of coral-associated microbial aggregates in the coral Stylophora pistillata

Bacteria commonly form aggregates in a range of coral species [termed coral-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs)], although these structures remain poorly characterized despite extensive efforts studying the coral microbiome. Here, we comprehensively characterize CAMAs associated with Stylophora pistillata and quantify their cell abundance. Our analysis reveals that multiple Endozoicomonas phylotypes coexist inside a single CAMA. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging revealed that the Endozoicomonas cells were enriched with phosphorus, with the elemental compositions of CAMAs different from coral tissues and endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, highlighting a role in sequestering and cycling phosphate between coral holobiont partners. Consensus metagenome--assembled genomes of the two dominant Endozoicomonas phylotypes confirmed their metabolic potential for polyphosphate accumulation along with genomic signatures including type VI secretion systems allowing host association. Our findings provide unprecedented insights into Endozoicomonas-dominated CAMAs and the first direct physiological and genomic linked evidence of their biological role in the coral holobiont

Use and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter retrospective study in Taiwan

Aims/Introduction To investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who initiated dapagliflozin in real-world practice in Taiwan. Materials and Methods In this multicenter retrospective study, adult patients with T2DM who initiated dapagliflozin after May 1st 2016 either as add-on or switch therapy were included. Changes in clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Baseline factors associated with dapagliflozin response in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 1,960 patients were eligible. At 6 months, significant changes were observed: HbA1c by −0.73% (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.80, −0.67), body weight was -1.61 kg (95% CI −1.79, −1.42), and systolic/diastolic blood pressure by −3.6/−1.4 mmHg. Add-on dapagliflozin showed significantly greater HbA1c reduction (−0.82%) than switched therapy (−0.66%) (p = 0.002). The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% target increased from 6% at baseline to 19% at Month 6. Almost 80% of patients experienced at least 1% reduction in HbA1c, and 65% of patients showed both weight loss and reduction in HbA1c. Around 37% of patients had at least 3% weight loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated patients with higher baseline HbA1c and those who initiated dapagliflozin as add-on therapy were associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c. Conclusions In this real-world study with the highest patient number of Chinese population to date, the use of dapagliflozin was associated with significant improvement in glycemic control, body weight, and blood pressure in patients with T2DM. Initiating dapagliflozin as add-on therapy showed better glycemic control than as switch therapy

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Design of a dredger for Pearl River

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, 1917.by Tai Ming Wu, Chi Foo Yeh, Hin Yung Tu.B.S

High-Peak-Power Passively Q-Switched Laser at 589 nm with Intracavity Stimulated Raman Scattering

A novel scheme was developed for a diode-pumped passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4/KGW Raman laser at 589 nm with a diode-to-orange conversion efficiency reaching 11.4%. The compact near-concentric cavity was designed to achieve the criterion of good passive Q-switching and to contain a coupled resonator for intracavity stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and second harmonic generation (SHG). The dependence of the output performance on the initial transmission of the saturable absorber was explored in detail. Furthermore, the output performance was studied by considering the influence of the pump-to-mode size ratio. By using an initial transmission of 50%, the highest pulse energy and peak power were 110 μJ and 118 kW, respectively, at a pump duration of 40 μs and a pump frequency of 10 kHz

Sub-Nanosecond Passively Q-Switched Yellow and Orange Raman Lasers

Sub-nanosecond high-peak-power passively Q-switched yellow and orange lasers are compactly developed using a near-concentric resonator with intracavity-stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) as well as second harmonic generation (SHG). The fundamental wave is generated from an a-cut Nd:YVO4 crystal. The Stokes wave for an SHG yellow (579 nm) or orange (589 nm) laser is generated from a Np-cut potassium gadolinium tungstate (KGW) with the Ng or Nm axis parallel to the c-axis of Nd:YVO4 crystal. The optimal cavity length is systematically explored in a near-concentric configuration to achieve sub-nanosecond high-peak-power pulses. The shortest pulse widths for the yellow and orange output pulses are down to 0.67 ns and 0.70 ns, respectively. The highest peak powers for the yellow and orange output pulses are up to 176 and 138 kW, respectively

Temporal Trends of Severe Hypoglycemia and Subsequent Mortality in Patients with Advanced Diabetic Kidney Diseases Transitioning to Dialysis

Background: Patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are at higher risk of hypoglycemia than diabetic patients without DKD. We aimed to investigate the temporal trends of severe hypoglycemia in advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis and examine risk factors associated with severe hypoglycemia. We also investigated the association of severe hypoglycemia episodes with one-year mortality after initiation of dialysis in patients with advanced DKD. Methods: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 46,779 advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis (Peritoneal dialysis 4216, hemodialysis 42,563) between 1997 and 2011 were enrolled. We calculated the rates of severe hypoglycemia from 5 years before dialysis until 10 years after dialysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine the risk factors of post end stage renal disease (ESRD) one-year hypoglycemia and post ESRD one-year mortality in advanced DKD patients transitioning to dialysis. Results: We found that 11.5% of advanced DKD patients had at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia the year leading up to dialysis initiation. Multivariate analysis revealed hemodialysis compared with peritoneal dialysis, stroke, use of sulfonylurea, glinide, and insulin were associated with higher risk of severe hypoglycemia one year after transitioning to dialysis. Increased frequency of severe hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was associated with incrementally higher mortality risk one year after transitioning to dialysis (Pre-ESRD hypoglycemia: Hazard ratios: 1.28 (1.18&#8211;1.38, p &lt; 0.001), 1.64 (1.49&#8211;1.81, p &lt; 0.001) for one, two hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, respectively; post-ESRD hypoglycemia: HRs of 1.56 (1.40&#8211;1.73, p &lt; 0.001), 1.72 (1.39&#8211;2.12, p &lt; 0.001) for one, two hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations, respectively (reference group: no hypoglycemia related hospitalization)). Conclusions: Among advanced DKD patients, we observed a progressive elevated risk of hypoglycemia during the critical dialysis transition period. Increased frequency of severe hypoglycemia-related hospitalizations was associated with higher mortality risk one year after transitioning to dialysis. Further study of glycemic management strategies which prevent hypoglycemia during the critical transition period are warranted

The CHA2DS2-VASc Score Predicts Major Bleeding in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients Who Take Oral Anticoagulants

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at a substantial risk of ischemic stroke. The CHA2DS2-VASc score predicts the risk of thromboembolism, but its role in predicting major bleeding in patients taking oral anticoagulants is unclear. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan to identify patients with AF from 2010 to 2016. They were divided into four groups according to the oral anticoagulants. The outcomes were ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism, and major bleeding. Results: A total of 279,776 patients were identified. Ischemic stroke or systemic embolism events were observed in 1.73%, 3.62%, 4.36%, and 5.02% of the patients in the apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin groups, respectively. Major bleeding was recorded in 1.18%, 2.66%, 3.23%, and 4.70% of the patients in the apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin groups, respectively. The highest rates for both ischemic stroke and bleeding events occurred in the patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of five or more. Conclusion: Non-valvular AF patients with high CHA2DS2-VASc scores are susceptible to both systemic thromboembolism and major bleeding. The trend was consistently observed in patients who took non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or warfarin. NOACs might be potentially more effective in reducing overall events